Last week we found Jesus addressing a question to the religious leaders of Jerusalem. Immediately after the confounding question he posed to them, Jesus pivots to address his disciples and the crowd. His address is a scathing review of the scribes and Pharisees, who he sees as having lost direction and thus no longer to be completely trusted to lead. He is not condemning their message, for he is a devout jew and sees scripture as pure. Rather, it is the “do as I say, not as I do” aspect of their teaching he finds to be woefully wanting. Jesus notices that, sadly, the large phylacteries (boxes containing parchment scriptures) that the Pharisees wear are more to draw attention to their own importance, than to the importance of the laws they contain. Thus, these leaders have reduced their faith to a fashion statement, and their role as Rabbi (teachers) merely a means to elevate themselves within society. Some say that this is not surprising when one considers that in the Mediterranean world of the first century, honor was a thing of huge importance. But, when we look at the modern world one wonders, how much have things changed? Are we any less susceptible to the allure of our own egos, or better able to put aside our prideful ways? That is why there is an aspect of our weekly service, a mechanism included in every prayer, that works to help us “check our egos at the door”. Join us this Sunday as we reflect on how this seemingly small, and often misunderstood, part of our worship is utterly necessary to anyone professing Christ as their savior.